India vs Australia | There is a lot of uncertainty in Indian camp, states Ricky Ponting
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After Australia won the second Test at Perth, Ricky Ponting has asserted that there is a lot of uncertainty in the Indian camp at this stage of the tour. The former skipper has also implied that the Indians have a very weak batting unit and it was highlighted in the second game of the series.
Australia managed to level the four-match Test series 1-1 as they got the better of the Indian team in Perth by bowling the visitors out for a mere 140 and registering a big 146-run win. The Indian batsmen, apart from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, struggled in both innings of the Test match and India could manage only 283 runs in the first innings in reply to 326 by the hosts.
India went with the opening combination of Murali Vijay and KL Rahul after the injury of Prithvi Shaw during the practice game. The Mumbai batsman has now been ruled out of the entire series because of the left ankle injury while middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also missed the second game at the Optus Stadium. India has decided to bring in opener Mayank Agarwal and all-rounder Hardik Pandya to strengthen their batting for the next two games.
"They've had to call in another opener, they've brought in another all-rounder as well to try and bolster that middle order. They've got as much on their plate as the Australian boys have, if not more now that they've lost this game. (There is) a lot of uncertainty around their group and they haven't got long to turn things around," Ponting told PTI.
"I compared the two teams at the start of the series and I didn't think India could win here just because of the frailties of their batting and I think that's been highlighted this week."
The former Aussie captain is of the opinion that after winning the second Test in Perth, the home team has bounced back into the series really well and they have the momentum with them for the two upcoming games at Melbourne and Sydney. Sydney has been a venue which always had favourable conditions for the Indians. Ponting also implied that the conditions both at MCG and SCG will be favouring the Indians and the Tim Paine-led side will have their work cut out.
"Just not relax. They've set a bit of blueprint this week (of how to beat India) with the way they've played. They just have to build on that now. There's no doubt with one win a bit of belief comes but they can't just rock up in Melbourne and expect India
"If you think about the MCG and SCG, they are conditions that will suit the Indians more than Adelaide and Perth. The Aussie boys will have their work cut out, but as long they play the brand of cricket they know that they can play - and I think they showed that (with) some great aggression this week, I hope that continues for the next couple of weeks - if they can do that then I think they're going to be hard to beat."
